Not all those who wander are lost.

Tag Archives: Astrid’s Nemeton

Throughout the Faire Realms, we find so many beautiful things to experience. This Faire Season, I have discovered places both beautiful and magical. Of course, our lives are filled with things beautiful and magical no matter where we are, but Faire Season brings all these things to the forefront.

Reflecting on the magical

Reflecting on the magical details we always find in the Fairelands made me think of the place that’s been our home for the last week, Astrid’s Nemeton. So I walked about and did just a little bit of exploring.

Enchanted by Cats!

I was completely enchanted by a group of long-haired cats who were based around a circle of standing stones with glowing runes carved upon them. My Futhark isn’t that good, despite my background, so I’ll have to photograph these and check out their meanings when I get back to the cabin and have wifi. The cats were quite talkative. They seemed surprised that I wasn’t on some Quest. I told them I was just here on holiday, and they invited me to have a play with their butterflies. I like butterflies.

Like a butterfly.

“You are a little like a butterfly,” said one of the cats, “with those wings.”

Two cats jumped down from the tops of the stones, and suddenly I was surrounded by five purring felines, all demanding chin scritches.

That was a fun way to spend a little time.

I had other things to do, though, so I headed away toward Pools of Ethuil, since I love the atmosphere there so much.

Lovely, tiny huts!

On my way back around, I chanced upon a couple of little huts that would be perfect for some of the demifae in our Realm. I shall have to get my builders onto making some huts like these: I know my little subjects would enjoy them very much.

Just let me think….

Just let me think: a round base, a tipi-style top, and a lovely tree to grow round the whole thing– yes, I think we could do that in Awenia. My head is full of ideas now!

So much more to do…

But for now, I have so much more to do! And, sometimes at this point, the high middle, of the Faire, it begins to feel a bit like work. I know that must sound ridiculous, since really I’m just enjoying my life and going to parties and finding beautiful things, but the politicking. And the socialising. They’ll make anybody tired after a while.

Glad to have my private space.

I’m so glad I have my little blog to put down my personal thoughts in. I know no-one will probably ever read it, and some that do may look at me and sneer, since I’m a Queen and should have no problems, ever, but I love being able to write things out. And it helps me keep a list of things for later. Like maybe convincing one of those beautiful cats to come home with me. And building huts for tiny fae at home.

But for now, on to Pools of Ethuil, where I’ll relax for a little bit before preparing for the evening.

Style Card:Body: Maitreya
Head: Lelutka Bento Mesh Head, Simone
Skin: Lumae LeLutka – Deia – Ethesi // Neutral (Available NOW at the 2018 Relay for Life of Second Life Fantasy Faire, in Pools of Ethuil!)
Eyes: Banana Banshee, Faelynn Eyes (Available NOW at the 2018 Relay for Life of Second Life Fantasy Faire, in the Realm of Aetherea!)
Eyelashes: Raven Bell, Mystic Lashes (Available NOW at the 2018 Relay For Life of Second Life Fantasy Faire, in the Realm Erstwhile!)
Ears: Lumae, Leevi Long Ears
Necklace: Illusions, Niobium Silumira Necklace (Available NOW at the 2018 Relay for Life of Second Life Fantasy Faire, in the Realm of Willows of Nienna!)
Headpiece: Gauze & Trap, Faunus Crown, Fae (Available NOW at the 2018 Relay for Life of Second Life Fantasy Faire, in the Realm of Erstwhile!)
Gown: The Annex, Olivia Gown, Purple (Available NOW at the 2018 Relay for Life of Second Life Fantasy Faire, in the Realm of Erstwhile!)
Hair: Limerence, Jassy

Adorable Fae Huts: The Nerdy Birdy, Shabby Hut (Available NOW at the 2018 Relay for Life of Second Life Fantasy Faire, in the Realm of Astrid’s Nemeton!)

We’ve settled in to our digs for the duration of the Great Faire, in the intriguing Realm of Astrid’s Nemeton. It seems to be a mixture of Asatru and Druidic cultures. The denizens here are (mostly) friendly, although some of them have rather large teeth!

Greetings from Astrid’s Nemeton!

We brought fae steeds, of course, as one can never be too sure what mounts there will be in these far-away and often strange Realms. I spent the first day of the Faire exploring our Realm on horseback: there was so much to see and do! It is possible to hire a boat and sail the waterways that marble the Realm throughout.

We are in a beautiful little house upon which a tree with iridescent leaves grow: this seems to be the style throughout the Realm. These houses remind me of nothing so much as the temple at Angkor Wat, even though those buildings are made of a different kind of stone. I never visited it, but I recall seeing photographs in some class or other at uni, or maybe it was secondary school: my old life seems to run together so much.

Queue Marlowe did my hair!

Although I’m fortunate enough to be able to visit Queue’s Realm and have her do my hair from time to time, I always look for her braiding and styling booth first of all when we reach the Faire: there is nothing so wonderful as being able to enjoy the Faire in a beautiful new hairstyle and be able to tell people where I got it! She calls this braid style Janire, and I’m sure I’ve met the woman it’s named after somewhere or other. I don’t know why, but I have a strong, sharp memory of the taste of broccoli whenever I think of that name. Perhaps we had memorable broccoli together at some dinner or other? I do like broccoli.

As with all years, I will do my best to share with you, whether or not you can hop Realms as easily as we can, our experiences at the Faire. We’ve been so busy since the Faire opened on Thursday that I’m only just getting around to looking at the photographs I’ve taken. Luckily, the Faire has great wifi and I’m able to post right from our little house!

From Gwen: Co-sponsoring a Fantasy Faire region with LRRiven of Rivendale is such an honour! But it’s also a lot of work! Obviously, Riven as the region designer did so much more than I did, and Kitori Unplugged (aka Skeleton) tirelessly provided so many scripts that made everything Just Work, but the concept we created and the story we worked toward have been building for a year in one form or another. Indeed, we’re already thinking about next year!

I’m hoping that for the next week I can partially relax, take in the Faire, and share many wonderful pictures and stories with you. Although these photographs were taken on Thursday just before the Faire opened, I’ve been so busy that this is the first chance I’ve had to post anything.

Coming soon:

More from Astrid’s Nemeton
The Soundtrack of Erstwhile
A cubic *ton of things I haven’t thought of yet!

Style Card:Body: Maitreya
Head: LAQ Bento Mesh Head, Lulu
Skin: Lumae, Elvi (Nylisa) (Available NOW at the 2018 Relay For Life of Second Life Fantasy Faire, in the Realm Pools of Ethuil!)
Eyes: Banana Banshee, Faelynn (Available NOW at the 2018 Relay For Life of Second Life Fantasy Faire, in the RealmAetherea!)
Ears: Lumae, Leevi Long Ears
Dress: Noble Creations, Goddess Artemis
Hair: Analog Dog, Janire (Available NOW at the 2018 Relay For Life of Second Life Fantasy Faire, in the Realm Falls of Hope!)
Headpiece: On a Lark, Gardenia Crown
Boots: !go!, Fay Boots Red
Horse: WaterHorse, Riding Horse, English WarmBlood
Horse Skin: Cinnamon, Celestial Pearl
Unicorn Mods: Jinx, Unicorn Set (Not new, but you can get it at the Jinx store in the Fantasy Faire realm of Tiny Town!)
Horse Tack: Aerith Tack FF18 (Available NOW at the 2018 Relay For Life of Second Life Fantasy Faire, in the Realm Tiny Town!)